Club career

Flamengo

Ibson arrived at Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in 1992, at the age of nine. His father, Laís Souza, eventually became a scout at the club. He was promoted to the club's first team in 2003 and made his debut in a match against CR Vasco da Gama, historically one of Flamengo's biggest rivals. He had nine appearances in the first division that season.

After a good season, some European clubs showed interest in Ibson and, just three matches into the Carioca league, he was transferred to Portuguese giants F.C. Porto, in January 2005. Flamengo received many criticism about his transfer, most of it coming from the transfer values, around US$2,5 million dollars. At that time, club directors said they cashed the money as his contract would run out at the end of the year, so the club could have lost him for nothing.